Scouring pad and method of making



Oct. 31, 1933. w. H. ROBBINS SCOURING PAD AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed Jan. 5. 1932 AWE/v70:

A TTOfNE 76 Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to The Williams corporation of Ohio Com pany, London, Ohio, at

Application January 5, 1932. Serial No. 584,837

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in scouring pads and the method of making them, and has for its object to provide a-pad composed of steel wool in which there is a strip 5 or ribbon of steel wool strands, and from this strip or ribbon to form of continuous steel wool strands a pad by forming the ribbon into a plurality of arcuate layers, each layer being connected to an adjacent and oppositely disposed layer so that the attaching parts of these layers form an acute angle with each other. These layers increase in size progressively from the center of the pad to the outer periphery of the Dad.

In making the pad the strip is rolled into a compact cylindrical body, and thereafter pressed so that the original cylindrical body is formed into a double convex solid with arcuate sides and sharp edges.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a strip or short piece of ribbon composed of a plurality of continuous strands of steel wool compactly arranged.

Figure 2 shows the strip shown in Figure 1 rolled into a compact cylindrical mass.

Figure 3 shows an end View of the pad compressed into a double convex form, with oppositely disposed arcuate sides and oppositely disposed sharp edges.

Figure 4 shows an end view of the pad shown in Figure 3 after it has been used, with the two used layers folded back upon the opposite side,

and serving as a handhold.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pad shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 1 a section 1 of a short strip or piece of steel wool ribbon is shown. This strip is composed of a plurality of longitudinally arranged strands of steel wool. These strands are cut into very fine threads, and are maintained in a continuous condition so that there is no disposition to break up into fine detached sections.

The sizes of these strands, as commonly used for the formation of the present pad, are .0003

inch, .0005 inch, .00065 inch, .001 inch, .005x.002 inch, .002x.0026 and .003x0055 inch. All the strands are in a long unbroken and uniform condition so that they are not likely to break and crumble, and become useless.

While the strands are continuous and unbroken, yet each strand assumes an irregular and wavingcondition, thereby cooperating with all the other strands to form a compact pad, in

which each strand performs its part in main taining the pad in a compact condition, as shown in Figure l. The irregular course followed by any particular strand is illustrated in Figure l by the reference numeral 2. This numeral is found in Figure l in three places, and in each place designates the same strand as located in different positions on the strip. It will be observed that the strand is continuous but irregular in its lateral position. 35

After the strip has been formed, as shown in Figure 1, it is rolled upon itself spirally to form a cylindrical pad, as indicated in Figure 2. The pad as shown in Figure 2 is compressed on opposite sides so that two other opposite sides are forced outwardly. In forcing the two sides together there is formed a pad built up of a series of concave-convex layers 3, increasing in size from the center toward the lateral surfaces in both directions. These concave-convex layers are united to each other at their ends to form with each other acute angles or corners, as indicated by the numeral 4.

The method of forming the steel wool pad comprises arranging the strands of loose steel shavings longitudinally with the strands extending substantially in the same direction as shown in Fig. 1. The strands are then compressed to form a compact ribbon having its upper and lower surfaces in compressed condition, after which the ribbon is rolled to form a round pad. The round pad is subsequently compressed to form a plurality of opposed definite layers with inner concave and outer convex surfaces and with adjoining edges forming acute angles, shown in Fig. 3.

The article comprises a pad formed of a plurality of longitudinally arranged strands of steel shavings made into a single compressed steel wool ribbon spirally wound, which has been compressed to the extent to allow unwinding after use, the pad as formed having a plurality of opposed defined layers, each layerhaving a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface. The completed abrasive pad is thus formed with each layer, except the two forming the terminals of the ribbon, being connected on opposite edges at an acute angle to the edges of adjacent layers similarly formed and on the opposite side of the pad. The convex and concave surfaces of the layers are so compressed prior to winding as to permit the layers to be folded back upon themselves to present unused surfaces to the article worked upon, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing.

When the pad is completely formed, as shown in Figure 3, each strand of steel wool extends from the free end of the strip on one side of the pad to the other end of the strip located within the center of the pad. In order to use the pad the upper part thereof is gripped by the hand 5 of the operator, somewhat as shown in Figure 4.

After a layer has been used for polishing and dusting purposes, a certain. amount of dust and worn-away material accumulates in the strands. When the accumulation of foreign material becomes sufiicient to destroy the efficiency of the pad the worn layer 6 of the pad is rolled back upon the other side, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This folded-back part is used as a handhold and a clean surface is provided for polishing purposes. This surface is. just as fresh and clean as the pad originally was before it had been used.

When the under layer, as shown in Figure 4, becomes clogged with worn-off material and dust, the upper three layers are bent downwardly underneath the lower layer, as shown in Figure 4, after which the whole pad is reversed, and what has been the fourth layer from the top in Figure 4 becomes the lower or new layer for brushing, scrubbing and cleaning purposes. By this successive unfolding the whole pad may be used, and the pad at the last is just as fresh and capable of doing just as eflicient polishing and rubbing as it was when it was first formed, because the polishing surface is new, not having been previously used.

Since the strands are continuous no frazzled ends and broken-off strands are left on the work. These strands will not litter the material being polished, will not get on the clothes and hands of the operator as if the steel wool strands were formed into a ball in which they were promiscuously arranged.

In the present pad the polishing surface consists of the parts of the strands intermediate their ends. The whole under surface of the pad, as shown in Figure 4, may be used for polishing purposes, and when this whole surface has become clogged with worn-or? material this layer is covered up by the three upper layers, as shown in Figure 4. The three upper layers being removed, expose a clean and new polishing layer, new in the sense that it has not been used nor contaminated by the fact that the other layers have been used.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of my claims and my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An article of manufacture for use as an abrasive, comprising a pad formed of a plurality of longitudinally arranged strands of steel shavings and made into a single compressed steel wool ribbon spirally wound which has been compressed to the extent to allow unwinding after use, said pad having a plurality of opposed defined layers each having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, each layer except the two forming the terminals of said. ribbon being connected on opposite edges at an acute angle to the edges of adjacent layers similarly formed and on the opposite side of the pad, the convex and concave surfaces of said layers being so compressed prior to winding to permit the layers to be folded back upon themselves to present unused surfaces to the article worked upon.

2. A method of forming a steel wool pad, comprising arranging strands of loose steel shavings, longitudinally, with the strands extending substantially in the same direction, compressing the strands to form a compact ribbon, having its upper and lower surfaces in compressed condition, rolling the ribbon from one end to the other to form a round pad, and subsequently compressing the pad and forming a plurality of opposed defined layers with inner concave and outer convex surfaces and with joining edges forming acute angles.

WILLIAM H. ROBBDIS. 

